James McCall, a well-known fund manager hired by
Neither McCall nor Merrill is commenting on the reason for the portfolio managers departure, according to the Journal. McCall had been recruited by former Merrill Lynch Investment Managers president Jeffrey Peek. Peek resigned in September after the firm selected Stanley ONeal, not him, to be president of the firm.
McCall was surrounded by controversy as soon as he decided to join Merrill. He was formerly with
In his suit, McCall made allegations that the firm never paid him money he was owed and that it engaged in nepotism, favoring CEO Harold Baxters daughter, another portfolio manager. The suit was settled out of court in August 1999 (